Page 281 of The Sinner: James

Leisurely, she walks into the living room. My eyes stay glued to her at all times.

She wears one of her man-baiting outfits, a sleeveless, skintight, black dress, and an oversized designer bag paired with matching heels.

She’s leaner than she used to be, and her hair is longer, the color a few shades lighter.

She plops her bag onto a chair, retrieves a cigarette from the inside pocket, and lights it, showing disregard for me.

My eyes fall on her red-coated lips.

“You can’t smoke in here.”

As if she hasn’t heard me, she blows the smoke up and glances around nonchalantly, studying her surroundings.

“A cigarette won’t ruin your posh place,” she says, her eyes sweeping the furniture, the large windows, and my outfit.

She props herself against the table, crosses her arms over her chest, and slowly brings her cigarette to her lips.

“I’m sure you can afford to clean it if the smell bothers you so much,” she says after taking another drag and breathing the smoke out.

I take a small step toward her, my phone still in my hand.

“Why are you here, Daria?”

A devilish smile pulls at her lips.

“Aren’t you happy to see me? After all this time?”

“Are you?”

“Sure. That’s exactly why I’m here,” she says, hardly withholding a chuckle while rolling her eyes.

“What are you doing here, anyway?”

“In New York? Or here, at your marvelous place?”

The irony is glaring.

“Both.”

Cocking her head to the side, she flashes a condescending smile that I know so well.

Her eyes go down, taking me in.

“You look good,” she says, studying me while taking another drag off her cigarette.

Her lips form a perfect O as she lets the smoke out.

“Different,” she says, quirking her lips.

“Care to answer?” I ask curtly.

“Well...” she murmurs, pulling a chair out, scraping it against the floor. “I, um... I have some business in New York.”

Gingerly, she takes a seat.

“Shouldn’t you be in school?”

“I’m taking a break.”

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